The use of primary research in the classroom enhances the critical thinking abilities of students. The present article describes a strategy for using the American Physiological Society classic paper "Enzyme activity and fiber composition in skeletal muscle of untrained and trained men" by Dr. Philip D. Gollnick and colleagues to ...

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) can play an important role in the understanding of ecological systems. Although TEK has complemented scientific and managerial programs in a variety of contexts, its formal incorporation into remote sensing exercises has to date been limited. Here, we show that the vegetation classifications of the Ache, ...

The classification of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) and polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) for epidemiology studies is confusing. The existing schemes such as American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, Chapel Hill Consensus Conference (CHCC) definitions and Lanham criteria produce overlapping and conflicting classifications, making it difficult to compare incidence figures. To ...

This study addresses leadership in interprofessional collaboration in childcare services (residential care). The aim was to explore the managers' (n = 6) experiences and present their views on how they exercised leadership in the residential institutions as well as how they organized and facilitated collaboration with relevant professionals and service ...

The author focuses on some clinical implications of Bion's thought. He takes into particular consideration the great technical importance of Bion's concept of 'waking dream thought'. He also proposes some developments of Bion's thought. Psychoanalytic exercises like those suggested by Bion are presented along with clinical material in order to ...

Hospitals are required to improve the planning and evaluation of emergency management exercises under revised standard EC 4.20. You must use a formal observer to critique the exercises. Physicians and other staff should give input for the critique, and results must be shared with staff participants at all levels. Future ...

Good natural resource management is scarce in many remote tropical regions. Improved management requires better local consultation, but accessing and understanding the preferences and concerns of stakeholders can be difficult. Scoring, where items are numerically rated in relation to each other, is simple and seems applicable even in situations where ...

INTRODUCTION: The use of neuroendoscopy has increased in the past 20 years. Despite an increase in the number of indications for use, novel adjuncts and modifications to existing endoscopes remain all but nonexistent. We introduce a robotic virtual endoscope with applications for neurosurgery that could serve as a novel step ...

Recent changes in medical education have resulted in an increased focus on patient safety. It is vital that new doctors can recognize and manage acutely-ill patients, as well as work safely and effectively as a member of a multi-professional team. A ward simulation exercise has been developed to provide a ...

The origins of delusional beliefs have been a question of great interest for centuries. For many years, the widely held view was that there was a fundamental defect in reasoning in the patient that gave rise to the false belief. Much effort was directed at establishing the kind of defect ...

Basic and practical information related to equipment, methodology, exercise protocols, conduct of the test and quality control issues for cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) will be addressed in this II part of the statement. CPET users have the responsibility for assuring that measurements remain accurate. CPT, especially when it features breath-by-breath ...

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether an assessment exercise performed on a laparoscopic trainer model reliably reflects previous laparoscopic experience and can therefore be used to accurately assess laparoscopic skills in surgical trainees. Subjects were recruited from a cross-section of surgical trainees and students at the Great ...

The practice of screening potential users of reproductive services is of profound social and political significance. Access screening lacks a defensible rationale, is inconsistent with the principles of equality and self-determination, and violates individual and group human rights. Communities that strive to function in accord with those principles should not ...

OBJECTIVE: Pre-exercise stretching (PES) has been common practice prior to participation in athletic events. Despite evidence for lack of benefit, many coaches continue to routinely instruct and prescribe stretching. This study assesses the knowledge, attitudes and practices of high school coaches regarding PES. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Multiple high ...

We report the impact of a monthly educational exercise for residents that emphasized practical skills and equipment usage rather than knowledge of advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) protocols. Residents were divided into groups of approximately four that rotated through three stations. Each station included several objectives, most of which related ...

BACKGROUND: There is increasing financial pressure to maximize clinical productivity for academic physicians. We examined whether clinical performance feedback alone could contribute to improving the clinical productivity of surgeons in an academic department of surgery. STUDY DESIGN: We implemented a clinical performance feedback program in January 2003. We then compared ...

The design and implementation of an assessment centre in the South Yorkshire and South Humberside deanery for selecting doctors into postgraduate training in paediatric medicine is described. Eleven competency domains were identified in the job analysis. An assessment centre comprising of four exercises was implemented to assess candidates. There were ...

The performance of twelve laboratories with previously established proficiency in the determination of the mineral oil content in a fresh water sediment is described. The summation parameter total petrol hydrocarbon (TPH) is defined according to ISO 16703:2004 with regard to the sample preparation to be applied, the flame ionisation detection ...

PURPOSE: To assess the construct validity of the Procedicus Virtual Interventional Simulator Trainer (Procedicus-VIST) and its use as a training tool. METHODS: Two groups comprised of 8 interventional radiologists (experts) and 8 medical students (novices) performed 6 renal artery procedures on the Procedicus-VIST. All participants received a 45-minute standardized didactic ...

The transfusion of blood and blood products is a complex, multi-professional task which is liable to errors at any point in the journey from donor to recipient. The serious hazards of transfusion (SHOT) scheme has documented reports which consistently demonstrate that the administration of the incorrect blood component is a ...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this report is to present a model of physicians in full-time clinical practice participating as investigators in multicenter clinical trials, sponsored by a pharmaceutical or medical device company. METHODS: This gas-exchange substudy was conducted as a pilot study to establish the feasibility of the 10-member EXERcise ...

Previously, this laboratory conceptualized a new phantom for calibration or performance testing of whole body counters using Monte Carlo simulations. This paper describes the physical reality that was created from the Monte Carlo design project and compares its counting efficiency to that of a conventional BOMAB phantom using two whole ...

Under European Working Time Directives, surgical trainees now have to attempt to gain adequate operative experience within newly-restricted working hours. Surgical skills training must therefore increasingly occur outside theatre and away from real patients, in a simulated environment. In ENT, we suggest that instruction and practice of grommet insertion may ...

A previous paper, in a series of three, presented the National Library of Medicine, Medline, PubMed and the MeSH system. Connection to PubMed via the Internet opens the PubMed search window that is the tool for retrieving references to scientific medical literature. This paper is intended as a tutorial for ...

The relatively low percent of patients affected with the cardiac form of Lyme borreliosis is difficult to diagnose, especially if the disease manifests itself in ways other than atrio-ventricular blockade. The advanced stage of Lyme carditis manifesting as dilated cardiomyopathy is a special case of this affliction. The authors of ...

Alexandra Hospital conducted a business process reengineering exercise for all its main processes in order to further improve on their efficiencies with the ultimate aim to provide a higher level of services to patients. The goal of the DEM is to manage an anticipated increase in the volume of patients ...

A new, simple classroom technique helps cell biology students understand principles of Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics. A student mimics the enzyme and the student's hand represents the enzyme's active site. The catalytic event is the transfer of marbles (substrate molecules) by hand from one plastic container to another. As predicted, increases ...

The level of realism in virtual reality trainers might not be proportional to its didactic value. As an example, three exercises to train suturing skills are proposed in this article. They use a discrete thread model with a simple but good enough behaviour, and constitute a training means for three ...

BACKGROUND: The knowledge level for EUS indications among gastroenterologists across different locations and practices is not known. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge of EUS indications among a diverse group of gastroenterologists, both nationally and internationally. METHODS: A web-based survey was designed to assess knowledge of EUS ...

Although there is published research on the methods markers use in marking various types of assessment, there is relatively little information on the processes markers use in approaching a marking exercise. This qualitative paper describes the preparation and experiences of general practice (GP) teachers who undertake marking a written assessment ...

This paper seeks to demonstrate the possibility of manipulating the frequency of stuttering using virtual reality environments (VREs). If stuttering manifests itself in VREs similarly to the way it manifests itself in real world interactions, then VREs can provide a controlled, safe, and confidential method for treatment practice and generalization. ...

The aim of the EU Acute Exposure project, ACUTEX, is to develop a methodology for establishing European Acute Exposure Threshold Levels, EU AETLs, for toxic substances in relation to harm to people by inhalation. The development of AETLs is initially in the context of the risks of major accidents from ...

The mêlée that surrounded the last days of Terri Schiavo's life was reminiscent of a classical Greek tragedy. Much like Antigone, Ms. Schiavo became enmeshed in irresistible and opposite forces, resolved to use her situation as an arena for the determination of political and legal issues as diverse as the ...

This study undertook an empirically based examination of the cognitive processes associated with the accurate construction of a criminal psychological profile. This was accomplished by comparing the abilities of profilers and nonprofilers in two simulated profiling exercises that measured both profile accuracy and an individual's performance on various tests of ...

This paper presents practical and scientific approaches for cleanup and site restoration following terrorist events. Both approaches are required in actual emergency situations and are complementary. The practical examples are taken from the May 2003 second biannual national emergency exercise, Top Officials 2 (TOPOFF 2), which occurred in Chicago, Illinois, ...

The UofL Center for the Deterrence of Biowarfare and Bioterrorism's (CDBB's) training involving standardized patients, who can make convincingly accurate representations of clinical signs and symptoms, and patient simulators has proven to be an effective means of enhancing bioterrorism preparedness. In addition to providing ready access to formative measures of ...

BACKGROUND: The leading cause of preventable battlefield death is extremity hemorrhage. This study examines how current first aid training for the management of severe extremity hemorrhage can be improved by using a patient simulator. METHODS: This was a prospective trial involving two cohorts of U.S. Army combat medic trainees. The ...

Documentation and analysis of aviation accidents is very important to improve aviation safety and post-accident survival. In this study we aimed to evaluate the civilian aviation accidents between 1955 and 2003 in Turkey to identify the risk factors for fatal and non-fatal injuries. Records of Civilian Aviation Office of The ...

We show that time-delayed feedback methods, which have successfully been used to control unstable periodic orbits, provide a tool to stabilize unstable steady states. We present an analytical investigation of the feedback scheme using the Lambert function and discuss effects of both a low-pass filter included in the control loop ...

Within the field of medicine, it has become widely accepted that respecting the autonomy of individuals justifies their right to know. More recently, commentators have asked whether such respect also justifies an individual's right not to know; that is, their right to remain in ignorance. In this paper, I examine ...

The skills necessary to connect ultrasmall vessels and neural structures successfully require commitment and practice to refine. The techniques require only a few specialized instruments and a high-quality microscope. Several exercises can simulate real-life anatomical situations using a rubber sheet, chicken vessels, or the rat femoral artery model. A series ...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of this study was to analyze the ability of a training module on a virtual laparoscopic simulator to assess surgical experience in laparoscopy. METHODS: One hundred and fifteen participants at the 120th annual convent of the German surgical society took part in this study. All ...

With a very high forest cover (over 80%) and low population density (below 5 inhbts/km2), Gabon is still a forest biodiversity rich country. Gabon's forests are amongst the richest in Africa in terms of botanical diversity and endemism for example, 22% of plants described in the Flora of Gabon are ...

This study presents an exercise of a major train accident organised in SE Finland in the spring of 2002. A specific method was used to collect and share experiences among the participants. This method, originally developed for the analysis of real accidents and crisis, demonstrates a strong potential to improve ...

Results of the survey of IAEA/WHO Co postal dose intercomparison exercises in which the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory participated during the period 1985-2003 are presented. In 14 exercises spread over a period of 19 years, the deviation in therapy dose level measurements of the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory has never ...

On October 4, 2003, the District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH) held a Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) exercise designed to test its plan for operating mass dispensing centers during a bioterrorist attack or other emergency. The main goals of the exercise were to maximize the throughput of the dispensing ...

The equivocity of the term delusion has led to it being considered a mere artifact. In this study, its meaning is considered as a psychopathological metaphor to be able to consider the relationships of man with the distorted reality. To do so, the meaning of the concept of man must ...

Fifteen employees became ill with headaches, nausea, and vomiting due to chemical poisoning at a Vermont community hospital on January 3, 1980. An epidemiologic and environmental investigation was conducted to determine the source of the illness. The investigation discovered that the vapors of a chemical called xylene, which had previously ...

Language is our means of reaching our patients and our means of describing the process of analysis to others. The task of the case history is to show the evolution of consciousness in both analyst and patient. It will be more effective if written in a lively engaging way. The ...